Politics latest: Reform councils set to ban Ukraine flags
12:07:24
VE Day celebrations under way - watch and follow live
The prime minister is among those attending the VE Day celebrations in central London today.
You can watch and follow live coverage in our dedicated blog below:
11:27:22
Tories respond to Reform flag ban
As mentioned in our last post, Reform UK says it will ban all non-UK or St George's Cross flags from being flown over public buildings in local authorities it now controls.
This pronouncement drew criticism from Labour over the banning of the Ukrainian flag.
Now the Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, who less than a year ago was hoping to take over the party, has weighed in.
He's a Kent MP, and Reform took the county council there last week. He said banning the county's enduring white horse symbol would be "denying our history".
And Dr Luke Evans, the Conservative MP for Hinckley & Bosworth, asked if the Leicestershire county flag would be able to flown there.
It is understood that Reform will allow county flags as they are part of "national heritage".
But what this reaction does show is the continuing feeling within the Tories that they need to go on the attack against Reform after the election drubbing last week.
11:01:54
Reform councils to ban some flags from flying over their buildings
Ukrainian flags will be banned from flying over council buildings in Reform-controlled authorities, a Labour MP has claimed.
Zia Yusuf, Reform's chairman, announced on social media this morning: "Reform controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the *only* flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and the St George's flag.
"No other flags will be permitted to be flown on its flag-poles, balconies, reception desks or council-chamber walls."
This will stop the likes of the Ukrainian, Palestinian, Pride or other banners atop government buildings.
It comes after Nigel Farage's party won hundreds of council seats at the end of last week, taking control of councils and mayoralties for the first time.
'Putin's puppets'
Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal, responded by saying: "Reform are to ban the flying of Ukrainian flags from public buildings. A gesture of solidarity we see across the whole country."
He then branded the party: "Putin's puppets."
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice replied with a series of water drop emojis and saying "drip, drip, drip" - adding: "Oh it's the Tapp again".
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, raised concerns about whether buildings in Yorkshire would be able to fly the white rose on Yorkshire Day.
However, it's understood regional flags will be allowed as they are part of the country's "national heritage".
10:24:31
How will the Green Party leadership race pan out?
We reported earlier about some movement in the race to be the next leader of the Green Party - or one of them.
The environmental party operates with two co-leaders. The positions are currently filled by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.
While a two-year stint is the norm, the above pair have been in charge since 2021 on an initial three-year term, with an extra year tacked on so as not to interfere with the general election that took place in 2024.
Now, the race is on to replace them.
Here is how it will pan out:
2 June: Nominations open;
30 June: Nominations close;
2 July: Statement of persons nominated published;
1 August: Ballots open;
30 August: Ballots close;
2 September: Results announced.
A Green Party spokesperson said: "The Green Party takes its internal democracy seriously.
"Our membership sets our policy, and it elects our leadership team.
"Part of this includes holding elections for our leadership positions every two years.
"We're proud of this robust democratic approach to party politics."
09:38:54
Local election in maps and charts: Reform delivers massive blow to traditional parties
By Prof Will Jennings, Sky News election analyst, and the Sky News data unit
The Conservatives and Labour have lost their historical grip on local elections in England under the challenge from Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and Greens.
Fragmentation of voters' choices is even more extreme than in 2013 when UKIP performed strongly, with Reform making larger gains in terms of vote share and seats.
Nigel Farage's party has gained nearly 600 seats, taking control of eight councils, as well as winning both of this year's inaugural metro mayor contests, in Greater Lincolnshire and in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have lost control of all their previously held councils.
Below, Sky News examines the results of this election in a series of maps and charts.
09:05:11
Greens deputy leader launches bid for top role
Later this year, a leadership election will take place for the Green Party.
The group recorded their best ever general election result last year, winning four seats.
A candidate has already put their name forward to replace one of Carla Denyer or Adrian Ramsay, the current co-leaders.
Zack Polanski, deputy leader and a London Assembly member, has told The Guardian the Greens are "not being as bold as we can be".
Polanski says: "We're not visible enough. I don't want to see our membership grow incrementally. I want to see us be a mass movement."
Polanski: PM paving way for Reform
The former Liberal Democrat says his party needs to take advantage of disillusionment with Labour.
"If you were trying to create the circumstances for the far right to rise, you would be doing exactly what Keir Starmer is doing now, which is protecting the wealth and power of the super rich," he said.
The Greens have less than a third the membership of Reform UK, but Polanski believes there is more support for Greens if it can be found.
08:40:06
All change: Control of every council swaps hands - except one
Looking at the overall picture of the local elections results from Friday, one thing stood out to our data team.
Control of almost every single council that was up for election changed hands.
The only one that did not was Cornwall Council, which stayed under no overall control - except that the Tories had been the largest party before the election, but slipped down to fourth.
Use this interactive map to explore the results:
Here is the full list:
Buckinghamshire: Con lose to NOC
Cambridgeshire: Lib Dem GAIN from NOC
Cornwall: Remains NOC
Derbyshire: Reform GAIN from Con
Devon: Con lose to NOC
Doncaster: Reform GAIN from Lab
Durham: Reform GAIN from NOC
Gloucestershire: Con lose to NOC
Hertfordshire: Con lose to NOC
Kent: Reform GAIN from Con
Lancashire: Reform GAIN from Con
Leicestershire: Con lose to NOC
Lincolnshire: Reform GAIN from Con North
Northamptonshire: Reform GAIN from Con
Northumberland: Con lose to NOC
Nottinghamshire: Reform GAIN from Con
Oxfordshire: Lib Dem GAIN from NOC
Shropshire: Lib Dem GAIN from Con
Staffordshire: Reform GAIN from Con
Warwickshire: Con lose to NOC
West Northamptonshire: Reform GAIN from Con
Wiltshire: Con lose to NOC Worcestershire
Tap here to see the results in full
08:23:08
07:46:53
'Bear with us,' minister tells Sky News
Ahead of the VE Day celebrations, veterans minister Alistair Carns is speaking to Sky News.
A former soldier himself, he pays tribute to the UK's veterans.
But he is also asked by Sky News presenter Gareth Barlow about former minister Louise Haigh's criticism of the government, and the losses at last week's elections.
Carns told the public - and Labour backbenchers - to "bear with us". He pointed out the government had only been in power nine months and it "does take time" to make changes.
'Slow is smooth, smooth is fast'
Lower NHS waiting lists, breakfast clubs for children, increased defence spending and the bailout of British Steel are all examples of the government's successes, he adds.
"The reality is it takes time to get legislation in, move forward," he says.
"And I always say slow is smooth, smooth is fast."
07:13:28
Government doesn't know how much is being spent on benefits for carers - committee chair
The spending pressure of social care is an issue that has been raised and not really dealt with for years.
It has an especially large impact on local authorities, which have to put substantial amounts of money in - up to 70% of their budget.
In a report published today, the committee said £32bn was spent on adult social care in the year to March 2024.
Despite this, carers still tend to be paid poorly.
Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP and chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, told Sky News an investigation found the UK doesn't know how much money is spent paying benefits to carers.
She says: "Care workers are some of the most poorly paid in our society: one in five in poverty, and some of those are on benefits.
"We asked the Department for Work and Pensions how much money is being spent on benefits to care workers.
"They didn't have that data, although the government's collecting the tax receipts and DWP is giving out the benefits."
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